Beer: Ratings & Reviews

Bottle conditioned (500ml) review, best before end of Sept 09, drank and reviewed 7 days too late! The label claims it is suitable for veggies and vegans, so no Sturgeons swim bladder used to clear the brew. I wonder what they use instead?

Poured into a pint vase shaped glass (Old Speckled Hen badged): The third review of my 'Dark Beer Evening'. This really is a black stout, I had to hold the glass up to the electric light very closely before I could detect a deep, dark maroon colour hiding within. A good creamy tan coloured head sat on top of the brew.

The smell was of burnt malted biscuits, dark chocolate and plums.

The taste was very dry throughout, the aftertaste emphasised the dryness almost turning it into a cheek puller-inner. The flavours followed the smell, add some burnt brown toast. The bitterness from the dark chocolate (and whatever hops they used) taking centre stage and almost overpowering everything else.

The bitterness and dryness together made the beer very different to the rich, creamy mass produced stouts that are common in the UK. I liked this style of stout and the 4.5% suited it just fine. Both wheat and barley are used in the brew, no hop details are given (haven't consulted the website).